All Chapters of Claimed by My Ex's Mafia Father: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

They spent the morning in tense, methodical review—every staff schedule, every access log, every person who'd crossed the estate's threshold in the past forty-eight hours laid out across Lucien's desk like pieces of a puzzle none of them wanted to solve."I don't like this," Eliora admitted, watching Marco cross-reference security footage with visible frustration. "Sitting here, suspecting everyone who brings me tea or checks the perimeter.""Necessary discomfort," Severin said, though the tightness in his own voice suggested he shared her unease. "Better this than continuing blind while someone feeds our location to people who mean you harm."A commotion rose from somewhere downstairs before anyone could respond further—raised voices, a door slamming, the distinct sound of tires on gravel outside moving considerably faster than any approved vehicle should.Marco's radio crackled to life. "Sir, we have six vehicles approaching the main gate. Fast."Severin was on his feet instantly. "I

By morning, the story had already outgrown the truth."They're saying you claimed her." Lucien set his tablet down on Severin's desk, his expression carefully neutral in the way Eliora had learned meant he was choosing his words with considerable care. "That version, specifically. Not simply that you're protecting Alaric's daughter. That you've claimed her.""That's not what happened," Eliora said."It doesn't matter what happened," Lucien said. "Three different Commission families have contacted us overnight, each one referencing some version of last night's confrontation, none of them quite matching what actually occurred."Severin's jaw tightened. "Details.""House Sorelli believes you threatened the Contessa with violence," Lucien said, counting off on his fingers. "House Valençay believes Eliora publicly chose you over Caius in some kind of formal declaration. And Santoro's people are saying—" He hesitated, glancing at Eliora."Say it," she said."That the Iron Sovereign has claim

"Who," Eliora demanded, her voice barely steady. "Aveline, tell me who.""I don't have a name," Aveline said. "I swear to you, I don't. I only know fragments, things I overheard before I left that life behind. But the pattern fits someone close. Someone with access that goes beyond simple staff clearance.""That's not helpful. That describes half the people in this house.""I know." Aveline's voice cracked further. "I'm sorry. I wanted to give you something concrete, and I don't have it yet. I only have enough to know you shouldn't trust blindly, not even people you've come to rely on."The call ended moments later, Aveline promising to reach out again if she learned more, though the promise did little to settle the fear now coiling tight in Eliora's chest. She sat frozen on the edge of her bed, staring at the phone, replaying every interaction she'd had since arriving at the estate—Agnes's warmth, Marco's gruff protectiveness, Lucien's careful competence.Someone you already trust com

They spent the following two days in exhausting, methodical review, cross-referencing every household member against Aveline's vague warning and the deliberate misdirection surrounding Caius's near-implication. Eliora found herself increasingly unable to relax around anyone in the house, even Agnes's familiar warmth carrying an undercurrent of watchfulness she hated but couldn't dismiss."We need to widen the search," Lucien said during their third consecutive strategy session, exhaustion evident in his voice. "If they're sophisticated enough to frame Caius using footage manipulation, they likely understand our investigative methods well enough to stay several steps ahead.""What do you suggest," Severin asked."A test," Lucien said carefully. "Controlled information, shared with a limited number of people, each version slightly different. If any of it surfaces where it shouldn't, we'll know exactly who's responsible."They implemented this strategy immediately, Severin carefully craft

It arrived precisely as the Contessa promised—formal, sealed with Commission wax, delivered by courier to the estate's front gate the following morning. Severin broke the seal himself, his expression darkening with every line as he read."What does it say," Eliora asked, watching him with mounting dread."You're being summoned to appear before the full Commission," Severin said, setting the letter down with visible restraint. "Formally, as a civilian with claimed knowledge relevant to ongoing disputes between Commission families.""On what grounds," Lucien asked, reading over Severin's shoulder."They're citing Santoro's earlier phone call as public record," Severin said grimly. "His mention of the pendant, the historical conflict—apparently enough was overheard or reported to justify formal inquiry.""They're using information we didn't even know was being monitored," Eliora said, cold understanding settling deeper. "The bugs in this house. That call happened in your study."Severin's